In a run for class president....
the story should be perfect but it fell a bit flat for me. The two main characters were sisters and they were just terrible. Angeline was a narcissist while Kat was whiny and very self-centered. The supporting characters were much better for the plot. Leo was much more likable as he wanted the best for the school. Maxine was a great developer and deserves more of a role.

I loved the idea for the plot of this book. But unfortunately it was not the book for me. I just couldn’t connect with the characters at all.

Sources Say is a fun yet also surprisingly timely YA contemporary about two exes running for Student Council President at their charter high school. It follows Angeline, an aspiring lifestyle influencer who is pushed into student council by her mom who wants her to have something “academic” to put on her college applications that finds herself going head-to-head with her ex-boyfriend Leo, and her sister Cat, who compensates for her childhood developmental delays by maintaining a 4.0 GPA and taking charge of the school newspaper. I really liked the dynamic between Cat and Angeline, and as someone who also had developmental delays as a child and spent my adolescence (and my early adulthood now, I won’t lie) overachieving in order to compensate, I really appreciate the representation.

A student-council election may seem low-stakes, but given that this is an election year (in the U.S.), Sources Say is pretty timely. Under the direction of a borderline-annoyingly enthusiastic government teacher, there is not only an election but a primary, and we get to see how that plays out on a smaller, more accessible scale. I was a senior in high school during the 2016 election season, and I really wish that a book like Sources Say had existed to help me understand how elections actually work. On Cat’s end, she’s reporting about the election, which shines light on bias in the media. She struggles to remain neutral as an online publication popular with her classmates, The Shrieking Violet, brazenly attempts to smear her sister Angeline’s campaign, which adds a nice layer of high school drama to the story without veering into melodrama territory. I liked seeing Cat and Angeline come together to figure out who’s behind The Shrieking Violet–Angeline is quick to blame Leo (who is a great unlikeable character, by the way), but the answer is a lot more nuanced than that. I thoroughly enjoyed this story about politics, integrity, and following one’s dream.

(Also, this book is set in Metro Boston, and as a Bostonian I was dying laughing at all of the references).

Sources Say had so much potential at the start, with a great concept, but overall it fell flat for me. I liked that the story centered around two sisters but I thought it was poorly executed, mainly because both sisters were horrible characters. Angeline was vain and narcissistic. Kat was whiny, pretentious, and incredibly self-centered. I liked the supporting characters far more. Leo, Angelines opponent in the race for class president was genuine and just wanted the best for the school. Maxine, Angeline’s best friend was a cool developer and deserved much more of a plot.

I requested and was granted access to this book in order to conduct an interview with author Lori Goldstein. This interview can be found below.

1. Sources Say is an incredibly timely novel that explores issues like the importance of political engagement, journalistic integrity, questioning authority, accountability in leadership and more. Publishing a book can be quite a slow process, with years often passing from writing to publication. Did you know when you began drafting the novel that it would be this relevant to our current political and social landscape? What do you hope young readers will take from it?

You are 100% right that publishing a book is something that takes a lot of patience! Normally, the writing and publishing of a book can be a two-to-three year process on the short side. This book was very different in that I had the upside (and the downside!) of a very quick turnaround time from when I first pitched this idea to my editor to what would become its publication date. We knew we wanted another timely YA contemporary to release in 2020 as my follow-up to Screen Queens, which released in June 2019 and tackles #MeToo in Silicon Valley. While this idea of writing about journalism had been in my head for a while, the timing was just right for coalescing my random notes and thoughts into an actual novel. This meant an extremely tight deadline for writing the novel, but it also meant that I could play on what was going on in the world and specifically in the US and know that it would still be timely when it came to the novel hitting bookshelves.


2. Cat takes her job as the newly-appointed editor-in-chief of the school’s newspaper, The Red and Blue, very seriously and hopes to grow its readership, but struggles to compete with The Shrieking Violet, another publication that largely shares fake news stories composed of clickbait headlines, half-truths and outright lies. As a result, Sources Say includes a number of interesting conversations about ‘fake news’ and journalistic integrity and argues that the audience shares in the responsibility to evaluate and question the media they consume. Do you have any advice for young readers as to how best to fact-check or otherwise determine the accuracy of what they read on social media or online?

This is such a complex issue but was actually part of the inspiration for the novel so it is something I continue to think about. Not long ago, I was having a somewhat lively discussion (argument?!) with my nephews. We were talking about the pros and cons of things like Reddit and using social media as a way to get your news. With myself, his uncle, and his mother all having journalism degrees, we clearly had a strong, dare I say, old-school viewpoint on this issue! But as we talked further, I became fascinated by the notion of how we now get our news — adults, but especially teens. How do we know what sources are “trust-worthy”? Is it simply a matter of who’s been around the longest — places like The New York Times and The Washington Post and The Atlantic. I do believe these veritable institutions hold much value in being relied upon as they’ve had a tremendous amount of experience at being held accountable and have instituted best practices as a result. And yet it would be naïve and a disservice to some of the newer, less traditional but equally reliable outlets to say that’s the only way or the only types of places reporting accurate and fair news — or that those institutions always do so themselves. Every news outlet should be held to the same standard of evaluation. I believe ultimately the outlets have a responsibility to be transparent in how the information they are relaying has been gathered. As consumers of news, we have a responsibility to seek this out, to understand the difference between a transparent named source and an anonymous social media handle. I think this is a conversation that needs to continue happening, and I’m so happy to hear that it’s being integrated into some school curriculums. We need more of that.


3. One of the things I loved most about Sources Say is how unapologetically ambitious and passionate all of the female characters are. Cat is editor-in-chief of the school newspaper and dreams of working as a serious journalist at a publication like The New York Times or The Washington Post, Angeline is a hard-working influencer with a successful and beloved YouTube channel, and Emmie takes concrete steps to realize her goal of a future in political leadership. Did you have to do a great deal of research to accurately capture their respective passions and professions and what did you dream of doing when you were Cat, Angeline and Emmie’s age? What’s one dream you’ve worked hard to successfully achieve?

Thanks so much for this great question! The strength of Cat, Angeline, and Emmie is something I do hope readers see and internalize — along with their flaws. Ambition can be a tricky thing. When you want something so much, it can be tempting to inch over the line that you cannot and should not cross. I want readers to see that in these young women and see how each one grows as a result of their choices and experiences. Fortunately, as a former journalist, including in high school, I was able to draw on my own life for my inspiration for Cat. For Angeline and Emmie, I did do a lot of research into female influencers and politicians to absorb where those passions come from and how to best represent them in those characters.

After spending much time as a kid wanting to be an actress on the soap operas my grandpa watched and loved (!), I transitioned in high school to wanting to write. Then I thought it would be in journalism, and that’s what I pursued in college and in the years after. However, I truly didn’t find my writing passion until I entered the world of fiction books. Writing, becoming an author, is the dream I’m still working on, even now with my fourth book releasing. There’s always more to achieve, more readers to find, more books to write, which you have no guarantee will be bought, published, and find their readers (and unfortunately sales are the only way publishers will often buy your next book). I’ve worked extremely hard to learn the craft of novel writing (an education that fortunately never ends), but also the business of publishing, which includes hats of marketing, publicity, and even public speaker at events and festivals. There are highs and lows, but it’s the dream I’m fortunate to have seen become a reality. And I have many more goals in this space to pursue.


4. Speaking of ambition, there are moments in the novel when Cat, Angeline and Emmie are forced to question the lengths they’re willing to go to achieve their dreams, and the danger of having these goals consume their identity or have a negative impact on other aspects of their lives, like their relationships with friends and family. For example, Angeline and Leo’s relationship ends prior to the beginning of the novel because Angeline’s desire to further her career as an influencer causes her to break Leo’s trust. Leo’s relationship with his mother is also strained, as he feels he like a lower priority when compared to his mother’s political campaign for congress. As a professional writer, can you share any strategies you might have learned that help you balance your profession with other aspects of your life that are equally important? What it is like to have one of your passions also double as your profession?

As you’ve astutely highlighted, this idea of passion, ambition, and personal life is one that I deal with every day. And as authors, our own concerns, thoughts, and ideas always seem to find their way into our writing even if the way it lands on the page is not exactly a mirror of our own struggle. Writing is a tremendously rewarding career, but part of what makes that so — finishing novels, selling to a publisher, finding and connecting with readers — is far from a guarantee. It is a profession where you can put years of work into a project that does not leave your hard drive. Financially, of course, that has immense implications, but it also can be difficult on one’s ability to maintain optimism, which is required to embark on that next project. A few things keep me going, but one of the biggest is having a support team. Family, friends, fellow authors to share the highs and the lows. To tell you that, yes, you are setting unreasonable goals for that daily word count. That some days you need to just put the laptop aside and go for a walk. The story will be there when you return. Being ambitious means at times you can have a tunnel-vision focus that means “life” takes a backseat. I think one thing I’ve gained during the pandemic is perspective on that. I’m doing my best to have a much better work-life balance. To give myself time for things outside writing, be it my paid job of creative writing teaching or feeding my creativity by painting a room or rearranging furniture! I can’t say I succeed every day, but I am trying, and that’s the best we can do sometimes.


5. Ms. Lute, the new government teacher and student council advisor, is a really inspiring figure in the story, as her infectious enthusiasm, subtle guidance and thoughtful questions help to underline the importance and power of one’s vote and having one’s voice heard. Did you ever have a similar mentor figure in your own life and, if so, is there anything you learned from them that you still treasure to this day?

I am so glad you asked this! Ms. Lute is loosely based on my college journalism professor (even her name is a nod to his). I’m still in touch with this professor to this day, years and years later. He was instrumental in me majoring in journalism and making that my first career. I was a shy kid, not a public speaker, and I had to learn to deal with that when I became editor in chief of my college newspaper. His belief in me helped me find the strength and belief in myself. He has the biggest and warmest smile of anyone I’ve ever met. His joy at seeing his students succeed is one of the truest emotions I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing. It reminds me every day to find that joy — and reflect it for others.


6. We see a number of cases of harassment directed at the female characters throughout Sources Say, culminating in the creation of the “Frankengirl”, a disturbing and dehumanizing assortment of girls’ body parts that have been photoshopped to create an image of “the perfect girl” that’s distributed to the entire student body. Angeline and Cat’s school does nothing to identify who is responsible or hold them accountable, and this is one of the primary issues of Angeline’s platform when running for student council president, advocating for increased governance by their peers and creating the hashtag #MoreThanOurParts and #MoreThan. What do you think about teens participating in activism?

I am inspired by what so many teens are doing, most recently in the Black Lives Matter protests. From big cities to small towns, teens are often leading the charge, standing up for what they believe even in the face of pushback and outright harassment and bullying. I honestly do not know if I’d have been as strong as a teen, which makes me even more in awe of students speaking up, supporting one another, and pushing for change. I am proud of this generation and to see what they will continue to do.


7. Let’s have some fun! Prior to the beginning of Sources Say, the former seniors at Angeline and Cat’s school glued a lawn chair with a lifelike sloth holding a sun visor to the roof of the school and set up a webcam that live-streamed “Slothy” on YouTube. Did you ever participate in or see any memorable pranks when you were a student?

Hahaha! No! That shy kid I was would have never participated. And my high school was actually pretty tame on the prank front. I had a lot of fun googling school pranks though to find inspiration for the ones in the book. Slothy and the lawn chair on the roof, though, was entirely my own creation! I do not endorse nor recommend!

Sources Say is an empowering novel based around a student election between two exes, women’s issues, and two students newspapers. Angeline Quinn is a social media influencer running for student body president to be able to attend a workshop for influencers, while her sister: Cat, is the editor in chief for the student newspaper. Angeline’s ex, Leo Torres, decides to run against Angeline, causing some classic tension. Along the way, an incident occurs where girls are objectified, tension between the exes escalates, and a new newspaper makes it its duty to spread false information. Sources Say is is a fantastically paced novel following the importance of having a voice, using it, and making change.

I absolutely adored the characters, although I found Angeline to be a bit unlikable. Cat was definitely my favorite because she had a lot of depth, but Angeline showed true development near the end. The sisterly relationship in this book was another aspect I loved. The plot really developed the characters, so the movement of the story was very flowy.

As an additional note, the articles, tweets, and text messages were all wonderful add-one to the story that made me feel in touch with the story.

Sources Say is a must-read for people seeking out a book exploring politics, women’s issues, and complex character relationships.

I was excited to see this tour opportunity come across, because I loved Lori’s last novel, Screen Queens, and couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one. What a delight it was, and it comes at a perfect time to remind young people of the power of their voices.

Cat and Angeline are about as different as two sisters could be, despite being born only 11 months apart. Cat is intensely interested in journalism, having learned all about it at her grandfather’s knee, and is focused on “just the facts.” Angeline has a substantial social media presence and is a popular vlogger. Cat is mostly a loner, while Angeline has a group of girls with whom she is close -- much closer than she is with her sister, for sure. They definitely rub each other the wrong way and have some significant issues, so I was glad to see their relationship progress through the course of the book.

The most important thing I took away from the book is that all of us, including young people, have both the right *and* the responsibility to use our voice as citizens, whether that be citizens of our country/state/city or of our school community. All involved in the story come to realize the power of their voice -- whether in speaking out against injustice or in casting their vote for student council president. They also learn that they should be responsible and active consumers of information, whether that is found in traditional, “mainstream” media or on social media.

Sources Say is a timely and relevant book: the importance of good journalism, responsible and informed consumption of media, and using one’s voice are all lessons pertinent to America in September 2020! I hope you’ll pick this one up and share it with the young people in your life.

Rating: 4 stars!

**Disclosure: I received an early e-copy of this book from the publisher for purposes of this blog tour. This review is voluntary on my part and reflects my honest rating and review of the book.

I really liked this book! Originally, I was expecting to hate the character Angeline, but It think she had a really wonderful character development.

I loved this so much! The relationship between Cat and Angeline develops and grows in a way that I never expected. There is so much depth to the characters and the relationships that are created in this book. The writing was written in a much more mature way than I had expected for a YA novel and I loved it so much!

Young adult novel Sources Say has exes Angeline Quinn and Leo Torres pitted against each other for the student council president position. And Cat, Angeline’s sister, is there to report on all the happenings in the Red, White, and Blue. Cat reports the latest election news in a very professional way, unlike the Shrieking Violet which clearly has a biased opinion and backs Leo Torres. Who will come out the victor in this political race?

I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I expected nothing but a bunch of teenage drama (which there was) but there was a lot of important issues discussed as well. @lorigoldsteinbooks brilliantly weaves in important, real-world issues while also delivering a great YA drama. This was the first YA book I found myself highlighting so many great passages like, “At leadership camp, we’re taught that when we enter positions of authority, we have a responsibility to be honest and accurate. Because those who hold higher positions are automatically perceived as more trustworthy. There’s a bias toward those in charge, that they should be believed.” We see this right now happening in our world today! Here’s one more great line that I really loved! “But the problem with lies and exaggerated truths is that sometimes people follow because they are too weak to trust themselves. We’re all responsible at some point for something. For not questioning or for not standing up or four taking the easy way out.” WOW!! Goldstein delivers the truth that so many need to read. Especially during an election year! This one gets 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 stars and is a great YA drama with lots of truth seeds planted within!

Sources Say by Lori Goldstein

Thanks to Penguin Teen for the e-ARC of Sources Say through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review!!

If you’ve ever watched The Politician on Netflix then this is the book for you!

This book is about two exes running for student body president and told through alternating narration of two sisters. Angeline is the sister running for president and Cat is the one who runs the student newspaper that is covering the election.

Unfortunately, this book was really hard for me to get through. The premise was super promising and I was liking it in the beginning but it soon lost me because the two sisters were really hard to like. Cat was really judgmental and rude to her sister and would underestimate her constantly and it just made me really sad.
And so I liked Angeline the most but it was also hard to root for her because she would put her youtube channel and followers and likes over her important relationships.

I really wanted to like this book but I just found some parts to be a little too slow.

Sources Say is a fun read that follows two sisters perspectives as they experience their school's student election, which turns out to be more drama than either ever bargained for. Through this experience the relationship between the two sisters, who are so close in age but total opposites in personality, evolves from the antagonistic relationship they start out with. This book has great moments of activism and meaningful discussions but also tends to be a bit drawn out that causes you to lose interest. I loved that the school paper articles as well as the click bait type articles are included as part of the story to help tell the narrative, it was a great contrast between journalism and click bait and very entertaining. I wish there was a bit more character development, as the moments that you really got a glimpse into the sisters feelings and decisions really stuck out to me. Overall a good read.

With election season in full swing, Lori Goldstein’s newest young adult novel is a great book to read if you can't get enough of real-life politics. In Sources Say, which was released on September 8th, two exes go head-to-head in the most dramatic school election ever.
This book took a bit for me to get into. While the mixed media element (which includes news articles and tweets) is fascinating, it isn’t until about halfway through that the campaigns and mysteries start to develop and engage the reader. This novel gets into the dirty side of breakups, popularity, and what certain people would do to get what they want. And readers ultimately come to realize that everyone has ulterior motives in this story.
That being said, this is a strikingly relevant book for today’s day and age. With fake news, polarizing politics, and the rise of social media, this novel gets to the crux of what people want out of government officials: a yearning for their voices to be heard.
If you enjoy politics, journalism, or how the media affects the general public, then I highly recommend giving this book a read. Otherwise, it's just a classic YA book about people trying to find themselves in high school.

*I received an ARC from Penguin Teen in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was slow at first I will admit, but Goldstein somehow managed to find a way to combine high school drama, politics, and the dangers of social media into an intriguing masterpiece. This books follows sisters Angeline, a Youtuber and Influencer, and her older sister Cat, a hardcore journalist, as they struggle through a student body election, while working o rebuilding their relationship at the same time. Goldstein does an amazing job at making her female main characters strong and empowered. Romance was not one of the central topics of this books, and while that was slightly disappointing to me, it highlighted the fact that both of these girls care about their own goals and their own futures, which makes them even more admirable. I think I would have looked this book more had I still been in high school. Considering that I'm a senior in college, I think I missed the key demographic by a few years, which swayed my opinion on some of the aspects of the book, but I still found a way to connect with and enjoy it. I think readers will love this book because it includes a mystery that will keep them guessing, but also shows how relationships can always be rebuilt.

This one was not for me - was it satire? Was it romance? Was it about sisters? I felt like there was a lack of focus on what this book was supposed to be which made it hard to be come fully invested. The minute one plot line would start to draw me in, it quickly transitioned to something else. This wasn’t my cup of tea but I at least wanted to read to see where it would all end up.

*DIGITAL GALLEY PROVIDED VIA NETGALLEY IN RETURN FOR MY HONEST REVIEW. THIS DOES NOT AFFECT MY OPINION*

I have a lot of thoughts on this one, so all I can really say to start this off is to buckle up.

I'd previously read Goldstein's <i>Screen Queens</i> and didn't like it at all. When I requested this one, I was hoping to see more of an improvement and more appealing storyline than a bunch of high school/teen cliches.

I both did and didn't see that here.

For one, I didn't really like Angeline's character at all. I thought she was really shallow and self-centered, and from the way the story began, went, and ended, it appeared to me as though it wasn't ever actually addressed but just accepted. She was consistently thinking about how many subscribers or followers she could get instead of what actually mattered: the people she was supposedly "giving a voice" to. (Also, I thought we ended that whole "give a voice to the voiceless" trope? It's tiring to continuously see it in Young Adult books.)

Along with that, Angeline also did a really insensitive live-stream about her boyfriend which resulted in their breaking up. Her thing was that, instead of not doing it, she'd just get him to forgive her. Which, NO NO NO. THAT ISN'T OKAY! Towards the end of the book, this was addressed, but I still felt like she thought she was in the "right" for it.

To add to that, her and Leo's relationship was just... eh. I get the whole "exes have romantic feelings for each other" trope, but at the same time, it wasn't the same here. Their relationship was over, and I wasn't all that happy when the author tried to twist it for her desired ending.

I do think that Cat's character was one of the beneficiaries of this story. She's clearly been forced into her sister's too-bright shadow, and even after all the damage Angeline caused, she still just wanted to stick up for her--even if it wasn't the right way to go about it. I think that's a major lesson for readers to take away--if they can--from the story.

One thing that really stuck out to me in a "umm, wtf" kind of way was when the author put in a scene of Angeline talking about how Leo was embarrassed of his Latinx family. Again, I thought we were past things like this?? Why are they still continuously added into these books??

Lastly, this book is waaay too drawn out. What was an over five-hour read for me easily could've been a two and a half if the author hadn't decided to throw in empty scenes of drama we could've gone without. Don't get me wrong, I think she hit the nail on the mark with the drama in high school settings, but there's a fine line between drama and overly dramatized that was clearly being crossed here.

For that, I give this book 2.5 stars. I was highly considering DNFing at about halfway through, but I decided against it (because I'd already made it that far, why not just finish the dang thing).

This book would have been great if it didn't take me until halfway through the book to get invested. While I thought Angeline was interesting, and I wanted to know more about her and Leo's relationship, I just could not get into Cat and her story line. Ravi was the best part about it, but that didn't get explored until later in the book.

Cat was so judgmental of Angeline, and Angeline was very self centered, so I enjoyed them both realizing where they were wrong and working to be better. Although I had suspicions, there was a twist toward the end that I didn't see coming and it made things exciting and the characters' decisions more high-stakes.

I also really enjoyed the conversation around fake news and what journalism's role is in present times. It was cool to see the way the election in Acedia High reflected the past and current election cycles. There was also good conversation about family and how parents can affect the way their children navigate the world.

Although it took me a while to get into the story, I still would recommend it as I thought the plot was an interesting concept and the characters, especially Leo, were great to read about. I think a lot of people will like the dynamics between the exes and the sisters.

Thank you so much to PenguinTeen for providing me the e-arc in exchange for an honest review. This in now way affects my review as all thoughts and opinions are my own! I gave this book 4 stars!

When I read the synopsis to Sources Say, I immediately felt like I was going to read a book similar to watching Glee when Kurt was running for student body president LOL! I think that this book is a super fun way to look at today's political climate and a two party system and put it into perspective from a bunch of teenagers. Teenagers are naturally self serving creatures, so the drama that ensues in this YA contemporary was almost cringe but in a good, nostalgic, I never want to go back to highschool thank GOD I graduated type of way! The fact that the two students are recent exes... oh man. This coming of age story is perfect for anyone wanting a lighthearted way of exploring politics and the experiences one goes through, good and bad, including the pressures of social media and its impact on "government" roles.

I think most people who enjoy YA contemporaries that have drama but in a fun way will like this!

Why I requested this: Apparently, what I need is a good teen scandal every now and then. Especially one that will make the school election a trending hashtag. Honestly, I just really love a good contemporary in the mix of everything that I read and this sounded fun.

Pros:
Honestly, you probably guessed the battle of the exes was going to be a pro right? Well it is. Honestly, it was a selling point for me and it shines.
The media. I knew that the newspapers would play a role going in, but honestly it has a fair bit of commentary on the effects of media coverage.
The characters, specifically the sisters. I wasn’t expecting a story with as much of a focus on the sister relationship as I got, but it is exactly what I needed.

Cons:
There are a lot of plot points so some feel a little mushed up in the story.

Overall: A surprising read with a lot going on.

This book just didn’t hold my attention. The premise seems a bit to drawn out and it’s been done before. A lot of details are added that aren’t relevant to the story. Yet at the same time, many elements that were needed to round out the story weren’t included! For example, describing one character as being shorter than another is not helpful!

I found myself skimming the pages after I was 30% in because it was boring me and it was all over the place.

This book just wasn’t for me.